Wine band

ABSTRACT

A wine band having an absorbent, elastic and continuous band of material suitably sized to be placed over a lip of a bottle, such as a wine bottle, and around the neck of the bottle, so that the band of material is maintained sufficiently around the neck of the bottle and is sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle. In another version, the wine band is a non-continuous strip of material that can be placed around the neck of a bottle and in which a fastening mechanism secures the strip of material to the bottle.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/671,942, filed Jul. 16, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is a wine bottle band that prevents drops of wine from running down the side of the bottle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Due to the shape of wine bottles, drops of wine remain on the outside or top of the bottle during or after wine has been poured into a glass. Then, when the wine bottle is placed on a table or other surface, those drops of wine run down the side of the bottle and onto the tabletop. Wine that runs down the side of the bottle typically stains the bottle's label, stains the tablecloth, and may damage the tabletop surface. Hence, waiters are either trained to pour wine in a manner so that there are no drips (a task not easily accomplished, requiring a quick turn of the bottle after pouring) or are trained to wipe down the bottle with a hand towel after pouring. Sometimes, the hand towel is wrapped around the bottle during pouring.

Due to this drip problem, a number of devices have heretofore been developed and sold to customers that seek to prevent drippage of wine down the bottle. One such device is a wine collar made of metal that includes an internal absorbent material in which the collar clamps onto the neck of the bottle to stay in place. Another such device is a metal ring that slides down the neck of the bother and that contains an inner soft material to absorb any drippage. However, these devices are generally undesirable since they are difficult to wash and cumbersome to use.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel device that prevents the above-described drip but that is easy to use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a drip prevention device that is washable. Other objects are as described herein.

To achieve the foregoing and yet other objects, the present invention entails, in summary, a wine band comprising an absorbent, elastic and continuous band of material suitably sized to be placed over a lip of a bottle (e.g., a wine bottle) and around the neck of the bottle, in which the band of material is suitably sized to be maintained around the neck of the bottle and is sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle.

As an aspect of the invention, the band of material is elastic, terry-cloth cotton.

As another aspect of the invention, the band of material includes a logo.

As a further aspect of the invention, the band of material has a thickness that is substantially one-quarter of an inch.

As yet another aspect of the invention, the band of material has a circumference in a non-stretched state of substantially one and one-half inches.

As yet a further aspect of the invention, the band of material is washable.

As yet an additional aspect of the invention, the wine band has no metal components.

Still as yet a further aspect of the invention, the continuous band of material has a color that matches a lightness (or darkness) of a color of a liquid disposed in the bottle.

The present invention also entails a combination comprising a bottle having an open end containing a lip and a neck extending from the lip, and an absorbent, elastic, continuous band of material disposed around the neck of the bottle, in which the band of material is suitably sized to be placed over the lip and to remain maintained around the neck of the bottle, and is sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle.

The above-summarized aspects also may be applied to the foregoing summarized combination.

In accordance with a second embodiment, the present invention entails, in summary, a wine band comprising an absorbent, non-continuous strip of material, wherein the strip of material has first and second ends, a first fastener mechanism disposed at the first end of the strip of material, and a second fastener mechanism disposed at the second end of the strip of material, the first and second fasteners designed to be secured/fastenable to one another when in contact with each other, the strip of material having a length suitable to be placed around a neck of a bottle and wherein the first and second fastener mechanisms are able to be placed in contact with one another to enable the strip of material to be secured around the neck of the bottle, and the strip of material is sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle.

As an aspect of this second embodiment, the first and second fastener mechanisms are loop and hook type fasteners, respectively.

The above-summarized aspects also are applied to this second embodiment, as appropriate.

In accordance with a method embodiment of the present invention, in summary, a method of preventing a bottle with a liquid therein from dripping during or after pouring comprises the steps of providing a bottle having an open end containing a lip and a neck extending from the lip, providing an absorbent, elastic, continuous band of material, slightly stretching the band of material, moving the stretched band of material over the lip of the bottle and around the neck of the bottle, releasing the stretched band of material so that the band of material remains maintained around the neck of the bottle, and the band of material is sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle.

Aspects mentioned above also may be applied to the foregoing summarized method embodiment.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a wine band in accordance with the present invention having a logo thereon;

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of a portion of the wine band of the present invention with a logo thereon;

FIG. 2 is another illustration of the wine band in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a wine bottle having a wine band of the present invention disposed thereon;

FIG. 4 is a photograph of a wine bottle with the wine band of the present invention disposed thereon;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the wine band of the present invention in accordance with a second embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration showing a portion of a wine bottle with the wine band in accordance with the second embodiment disposed thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As summarized above, the present invention is a wine bottle band (hereinafter, “wine band” or “band”) that prevents drops of wine from running down the side of the bottle. Other types of bottle may be employed, as would be appreciated. Preferably, the wine band of the invention is manufactured from elastic, terry-cloth cotton and is appropriately sized to fit snug around the neck of wine bottles.

Referring now to the accompany drawings, FIG. 1 thereof is a schematic illustration of the wine band 10 of the present invention. As shown, wine band 10 is comprised of a band body 12 that includes an opening 14 there-through along with an exemplary logo 16. However, the wine band of the present invention does not need to contain a logo or other indicia printed or otherwise provided thereon, although it may be advantageous for marketing and other purposes to include a logo, text or other information on the wine band. For example, FIG. 1B schematically illustrates a portion 18 of the wine band that contains a logo. As shown in FIG. 1B, the exemplary logo is a stylized “WB.” Other logos or branding indicia may be utilized. For example, brands of companies that are related to or unrelated to the wine or beverage industry may be disposed on the wine band of the present invention. As another example, a personal logo may be employed in which a consumer orders wine bands having a selected or newly created logo or other indicia. FIG. 2 shows a wine band 20 in accordance with the present invention that does not contain a logo.

FIG. 3 shows the wine band of the present invention during use. In particular, wine band 10 is shown disposed around the neck 32 of a wine bottle 30. FIG. 4 is a photograph of a wine bottle with the wine band of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the wine band may be made from a terry cloth, elastic, cotton material that is approximately one-quarter inch thick, with a circumference in a non-stretched state of one and one-half inches. Other dimensions may be utilized as appropriate and depending on the thickness of the neck of a bottle on which the device is to be used. Other materials may be employed so long as they have suitably elastic and absorbent qualities.

To use, the wine band of the present invention is slightly stretched to fit over the lip 34 of the bottle (e.g., see FIG. 3), which is usually slightly thicker than the neck 32 of the bottle. The wine band is placed along any desired portion of the neck of the bottle and may be placed as low as 3 inches down the neck of the bottle where it begins to widen. Of course, the wine band may be disposed immediately beneath the bottle's lip or other location along the neck, as the user desires.

In accordance with the present invention, the wine band is easily washable. It can be placed directly in a washing machine, and since there are no metal components, there is no need to separate the washable portion from a non-washable portion to clean. As an option, the wine band of the present invention, since it can be manufactured at very low cost, can be practically disposed of after a single use or after only a few uses.

The wine band also, due to its elastic properties, will fit around most types of wine bottles regardless of their neck sizes and will securely stay in place without worry that the wine band will fall off.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the wine band is not a continuous band of material, as is the case in the first embodiment of the present invention described above. Rather, in accordance with this second embodiment, the wine band is a suitable strip of absorbent material, such as cotton, that includes a hook and loop type fastener (e.g., Velcro®) at its two ends. FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a wine band 40 in accordance with this second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, wine band 40 includes at one end a hook type fastener 42 and at the other end a loop type fastener 44. The wine band includes a body portion 46 disposed between the two ends. If desired, the body portion 46 can include a logo 48 thereon. Moreover, although FIG. 5 shows the hook type fastener 42 and the loop type fastener 44 on the same (e.g., front) surface, fasteners 42 and 44 may be disposed, at opposite ends, on different surfaces. For example, hook type fastener 42 is on a front surface on the band 40, such as shown in FIG. 5, and loop type fastener 44 is on the rear surface of the band.

To use, the wine band in accordance with this second embodiment is wrapped around the neck of a bottle. At the desired location around the neck of the bottle, the two ends of the wine band are placed in contact with one another so that the hook end secures itself to the loop end, such as shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, the band is reasonably tight around the bottle so that it doesn't move.

In the second embodiment, the wine band is, in one version, non-elastic. In a second version, the wine band is slightly elastic. In yet a third version, the wine band is highly elastic.

The wine band of the present invention, in any of the embodiments described herein, can be provided in different colors, as desired. For example, darker colors, such as dark burgundy, may be employed for use with bottles having red wines or other relatively dark colors. Wine bands provided in light colors, such as beige, can be used with bottles of white wine or other light-color varieties. Of course, other colors or combinations of color may be used.

As illustrated in the various figures, the wine band can contain a logo or design imprinted thereon (or woven into the band). For example, the figures show the logo “WB.” Of course, any desired logo, design, trademark, etc., can be used. Exemplary trademarks and/or tag lines to be employed by the applicant hereof include “The Dripless Pour”, “Catch The Drip(s)”, “No More Drips”, and “Nip the Drip!”. Moreover, as discussed above, brands of companies that are related to or unrelated to the wine or beverage industry may be employed. Personal logos also may be used.

Due to the absorbent nature of terry cloth cotton, the wine band should absorb all drops of wine that fall over the lip of the bottle, thereby preventing drippage of wine onto the bottle's label or onto the tablecloth or surface on which the bottle is placed.

Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, the wine band of the present invention is comprised of, in summary, an absorbent, elastic, continuous band of material suitably sized to be placed over the lip of a bottle, such as a wine bottle, and placed against the neck of the bottle so that the elastic nature of the wine band maintains the wine band in place along the neck, wherein the absorbent nature of the material absorbs drops of liquid, generally wine, that happen to fall down over the lip of the bottle during a pouring operation of the wine bottle. The wine band can be used repeatedly with more than one bottle and is fully washable. Exemplary materials of the wine band include terry cloth cotton.

In the second embodiment, the wine band of the present invention is comprised of, in summary, an absorbent length of material suitably sized to be placed around the neck of a bottle, such as a wine bottle, and that includes at its two ends a hook and loop type fastener, wherein, during use, the wine band is placed around the neck of the bottle and the two ends adhere to each other using the hook and loop type fasteners so that the wine band is maintained around the bottle's neck, wherein the absorbent nature of the material absorbs drops of liquid, generally wine, that happen to fall down over the lip of the bottle during a pouring operation of the wine bottle.

The present invention has been described in the context of a number of embodiments, and multiple variations and examples thereof. It is to be understood, however, that other expedients known to those skilled in the art or disclosed herein may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiments described herein, the alternatives mentioned above, and all equivalents thereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wine band, comprising: an absorbent, elastic, continuous band of material suitably sized to be placed over a lip of a bottle and around a neck of the bottle, the band of material suitably sized to be maintained around the neck of the bottle and being sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle.
 2. The wine band of claim 1, wherein the band of material is elastic, terry-cloth cotton.
 3. The wine band of claim 1, wherein the band of material includes a logo.
 4. The wine band of claim 1, wherein the band of material has a thickness that is substantially one-quarter of an inch.
 5. The wine band of claim 1, wherein the band of material has a circumference in a non-stretched state of substantially one and one-half inches.
 6. The wine band of claim 1, wherein the band of material is washable.
 7. The wine band of claim 1, wherein the wine band has no metal components.
 8. A combination, comprising: a bottle having an open end containing a lip and a neck extending from the lip; and an absorbent, elastic, continuous band of material disposed around the neck of the bottle, the band of material suitably sized to be placed over the lip and to remain maintained around the neck of the bottle, and being sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle.
 9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the continuous band of material is elastic, terry-cloth cotton.
 10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the continuous band of material has no metal parts.
 11. The combination of claim 8, wherein continuous band of material has a color that matches a lightness of a color of a liquid disposed in the bottle.
 12. A wine band, comprising: an absorbent, non-continuous strip of material, the strip of material having first and second ends; a first fastener mechanism disposed at the first end of the strip of material; and a second fastener mechanism disposed at the second end of the strip of material, the first and second fasteners adapted to be fastened to one another when in contact with each other, the strip of material having a length suitable to be placed around a neck of a bottle and wherein the first and second fastener mechanisms are able to be placed in contact with one another to enable the strip of material to be secured around the neck of the bottle, the strip of material being sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle.
 13. The wine band of claim 12, wherein the first and second fastener mechanisms are loop and hook type fasteners, respectively.
 14. The wine band of claim 12, wherein the strip of material has a thickness that is substantially one-quarter of an inch.
 15. The wine band of claim 12, wherein the strip of material and the first and second fastener mechanisms are washable.
 16. The wine band of claim 12, having no metal components.
 17. A method of preventing a bottle with a liquid therein from dripping, comprising the steps of: providing a bottle having an open end containing a lip and a neck extending from the lip; providing an absorbent, elastic, continuous band of material; slightly stretching the band of material; moving the stretched band of material over the lip of the bottle and around the neck of the bottle; releasing the stretched band of material so that the band of material remains maintained around the neck of the bottle, the band of material being sufficiently absorbent to absorb drops of liquid that fall down the neck of the bottle.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the bottle is wine bottle.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the band of material has no metal components. 